RUSTON, La. – The FIU softball team opened an early 2-0 lead, but Louisiana Tech responded with three unanswered runs to escape with a 3-2 win over the Panthers in extra innings on Friday night in Ruston.
 
Louisiana Tech's Carol Eason drove home the winning run with a double to right that scored Sierra Sacco.  Sacco reached to open the frame following an error by FIU shortstop Gaby Ruiz.
 
The Panthers scored an unearned run in both the second and third innings on the strength of a combined five errors by the Lady Techsters over that stretch.  Venessa Gallegos reached on a miscue by Louisiana Tech's Amanda Gonzalez and following a pair of groundouts that advanced her to third, she scored on a second error by Gonzalez.
 
McCann led off the top of the third with a single, her second hit of the contest, before eventually scoring on the Lady Techsters' third error of the frame – a throwing error by catcher Brooke Diaz.
 
Louisiana battled back to deadlock the score at 2-2 with a pair of runs in the fifth that eventually forced the contest to extra innings.  Gonzales atoned by providing the key hit with a run-scoring triple to right.  Louisiana Tech added a second run when Gonzalez crossed home on a wild pitch.
 
FIU starter Kendahl Dunford (5-5) went the distance for her seventh complete game of the season.  She allowed three runs, two earned and four hits over seven innings.  She struck out three and walked two.
 
LTU starter Audrey Pickett (10-4) went a full eight innings in earning the victory while limiting the Panthers to five hits and a pair of unearned runs.  She fanned five and did not issue a walk.
 
Kate Cooper recorded a pair of hits for Louisiana Tech.  FIU's McCann was the only other player to record multiple hits.
 
The loss moves the Panthers record to 15-13 overall and 1-3 in Conference USA action.  Louisiana Tech improves to 16-12 and 1-3 in league play.
 
UP NEXT:  The Panthers (15-13, 1-3) and Lady Techsters will continue their three-game weekend set with game two on Saturday, March 19 in Ruston.  First pitch is slated for 3 p.m. ET.
 
Saturday's game can be seen on C-USA TV – CLICK HERE TO WATCH
 
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